From the author of Multifaceted:
Niles never worries about the voices in his head.
After all, they gave him the courage to escape the aspects of his life that were holding him back. It will devastate his fianceé Charlotte when he breaks things off, but she'll recover. Work was a prison. And besides: he won't be able to reach his full human potential saddled with things like a job and a fianceé. That's what the voices say, anyway.
Niles has plunged headfirst into the seductive world of his Gem—a trigeminal nerve implant—and is eager to override its limits. Having heard rumors around the Network about the secret collective out to push beyond the conventional utility of their Gems, he obsesses about how his life will transform when he finally joins them.
His plan accelerates when Nell, a magnetic stranger intimately connected to the world he wants to inhabit, finds him and offers to take him with her.
Set in the near future, Multifaceted joins an array of cyberpunk and speculative fiction explorations of the danger and mystery at the intersection of body hacking and infatuation through the eyes of its two principal characters with undercurrents of noir and romance.
First Impressions: As a lover of books like Fahrenheit 451, I felt right at home with the atmosphere of Multifaceted. In the universe envisioned by Maya Harwall, technology provides a welcomed escape from everyday life, but it is not without its risks. The “real world” in Multifaceted is so bleak that I immediately understood the appeal of the dream window, although I was unsure about how it was supposed to work. Niles and Charlotte seemed like real people—living distracted lives while attempting to maintain a relationship. I was captured by Multifaceted from the very beginning. Also, who doesn’t like a story with a dog?
Cover and Setting: The cover is austere and bold, and its simplicity is beautiful. I like the symbolism on the cover: although the Gem in Multifaceted isn’t an actual gemstone, the characters consider it precious. Multifaceted is set primarily in a city with an active nightlife, dominated by the elusive Nite Aide, a place frequented by technology addicts. I can’t blame them for wanting to explore their options; they seem to have few pleasures elsewhere! Even the park in the city is neglected and bare. I wonder if they turned to technology first and forgot to take care of their real world, or if their real world fell apart and they turned to technology for comfort?
Plot: I haven’t read much speculative fiction, so I wasn’t sure what to expect, but the plot was intriguing. It was interesting to experience the story through Niles’ and Charlotte’s minds, knowing their perception was distorted and their knowledge was limited. Overall, I discovered two lonely characters, desperately searching for meaning in their empty lives. As the story went along, I realized they were merely two pieces in a vast puzzle, being pulled in different directions. Unfortunately, they seemed to have minimal control over their fates, whether they were pursuing noble desires or indulging selfish whims.
Characters: Niles and Charlotte were relatable and frustrating at the same time. They didn’t seem to have any real affection for each other, but I assume that is because the integrations were already affecting them by the time the story began. Niles’ desire to push the boundaries of his Gem was admirable, but I wish he would have stopped to consider what he might lose if he made it his priority. His behavior was exquisitely realistic in the context of addiction. Charlotte, on the other hand, was a follower, reluctantly going along with whatever other people wanted her to do—at least at first. I was happy about her devotion to her dog, though! Reginald was fascinating. It took me a while to figure out what he was trying to accomplish. Nell was also a bit of an enigma. I enjoyed trying to guess her motives.
Final Thoughts: Multifaceted is a clever book with lots of surprises. There were times when the narrative cut away from the action, which left me wanting more. However, the psychological journey of the characters was ultimately more important. The ending was satisfying, if somewhat open-ended, and I’m excited to see where the series goes next.
FTC Disclosure: I received a free copy of the book reviewed above.
You can learn more about Maya Harwall on her author website mayaharwall.com or connect with her on Twitter @mayaharwall.
Please click here to purchase a copy of Multifaceted!
Author photograph by Stephanie Dribus
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